The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Planning

In the vast expanse of the planes, a sprawling camp stretched as far as the eye could see. The sight was unprecedented—humans, in large numbers, moving with purpose within the unforgiving landscape of the planes. For any observer, the question would be inevitable: What could have drawn so many humans to this perilous domain? And why now?

Though the camp appeared united at a glance, a closer look revealed the underlying divisions. Clusters of tents bore distinct emblems, marking the allegiances of their occupants. On one side, banners with the familiar crest of the Church fluttered in the arid wind. Adjacent to them, the tents of the Ciriuas faction stood in orderly rows, their standards equally prominent. Each group maintained its own boundaries, its leaders vigilant and wary.

At the center of the encampment stood a massive, unadorned tent. Unlike the others, it bore no flag or emblem. Its plain appearance belied its significance—this was where the leaders of humanity’s most powerful factions had gathered. Inside, the air was thick with tension as figures of authority and power sat around a circular table, their faces grim.

They had come to the planes with one unified purpose: to end the tyranny and oppression inflicted by the demons who ruled this realm. But unity in purpose did not mean trust or harmony.

A middle-aged man stood at the head of the gathering, his presence commanding attention. Despite his youthful appearance, those present knew better than to underestimate him. He was Lord Drack, the king of the Highminer Kingdom and a renowned alchemist. Known for his neutrality and vast knowledge, his expertise had earned him the respect—and reliance—of every kingdom represented here.

Drack raised his hand, and a holographic map sprang to life from the wristband he wore. The projection displayed the terrain of the plane they had entered, its vastness akin to an entire continent.

“This is a preliminary sketch of the plane we now occupy,” Drack began, his voice calm but firm. “The territory is expansive, but fortunately, the number of demons is not proportional to the landmass. This works to our advantage. However, the overlord of this plane and his generals are formidable opponents.”

The gathered leaders studied the map intently. It displayed mountain ranges, forests, and barren wastelands—each potentially crawling with danger. Drack’s hand moved across the projection, highlighting key points.

“From the scans conducted using my array formations, we’ve determined that the energy levels here are relatively balanced,” Drack continued. “The only outlier is the overlord himself. His power is significant but not insurmountable. In fact, he is only marginally stronger than the weakest overlord of the Third Plane.”

The room buzzed with murmurs. Though reassuring, the information was no cause for complacency.

The King of Beasts, a hulking figure with a perpetual grin, leaned back in his chair. “Hmm. Large territory, manageable opposition… I hope we all remember the agreement we made before embarking on this venture,” he said, his tone laced with both humor and greed.

“Hmph,” Aldermond, the King of Blades, scoffed. His gaze was as sharp as his name implied. “Can you, for once, focus on the mission instead of the spoils? This isn’t a treasure hunt.”

The King of Beasts chuckled, unbothered by the rebuke. “Oh, don’t be so dour, Aldermond. The demons stand no chance against our forces, save for their overlord and his generals. The rest? Mere vermin.”

Despite his confidence, Drack’s expression remained neutral. “Underestimating our enemies would be a grave mistake,” he cautioned. “Even the lesser demons possess dangerous abilities. That said, we’ve taken measures to ensure our safety. A cloaking array conceals this camp from detection, and additional formations prevent our auras from leaking.”

Drack concluded his report with a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room. All attention shifted to Carlos, the leader of the Church and the de facto head of this campaign. He sat at the far end of the table, his face shadowed by the dim lighting of the tent.

“Thank you, Lord Drack, for your thorough report,” Carlos said, his tone measured. “Your skills are as impressive as ever.”

Drack gave a curt nod, his face betraying no emotion. Praise was nothing new to him.

The room grew silent as Carlos stood. The others watched him intently, waiting for him to outline the strategy that would determine their success or failure.

“However,” Carlos said, his voice dropping, “all of this is secondary.”

The words hung in the air, their weight palpable. The leaders exchanged uneasy glances. Aldermond’s frown deepened.

“What do you mean?” Aldermond demanded, his tone sharp. His instincts told him there was more to this campaign than they had been told. The Church’s involvement always came with layers of hidden agendas, and Carlos’s words only heightened his suspicion.

Carlos met Aldermond’s gaze without flinching. “What I mean is that the true purpose of this mission goes beyond conquest. While the reclamation of this plane is vital, our greater objective lies elsewhere.”

The room erupted in protests and questions. The King of Beasts slammed his fist on the table, his jovial demeanor replaced by anger. “What are you hiding, Carlos?” he growled. “We agreed on a united front. If you’ve been keeping secrets…”

Carlos raised a hand, silencing the room. “Calm yourselves,” he said. “There is no betrayal here. What I’m about to reveal is something we’ve only recently confirmed. It concerns the artifact known as the Eye of Eternity.”

The tension in the room escalated. Even Drack, who rarely showed emotion, raised an eyebrow. The Eye of Eternity was a relic of legend, said to grant its wielder immense power and insight into the fabric of the planes themselves.

“You believe it’s here?” Drack asked, his voice uncharacteristically strained.

Carlos nodded. “Our sources indicate that the Eye is in the possession of this plane’s overlord. Capturing it is paramount. With it, we can tip the balance of power in our favor, not just here but across all the planes.”

Aldermond’s eyes narrowed. “And what of the kingdoms? Was this not a joint effort for the liberation of the planes? Or is the Church planning to claim this artifact for itself?”

Carlos’s expression hardened. “This is no time for baseless accusations. The Eye’s power is too great for any one faction to wield alone. Our aim is to secure it for the collective good.”

The room remained tense, but the leaders knew there was no turning back. They had committed too much to this campaign. Still, doubts lingered in the minds of many, particularly Aldermond. Beneath his stoic exterior, he wrestled with his own motives. The search for his son weighed heavily on him, and he feared the Church’s secretive agenda might jeopardize that personal mission.

Carlos’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Prepare your forces. At dawn, we march on the stronghold of the overlord. Victory is within our grasp, but only if we remain united.”

“And then there’s one more thing” He said quickly as he noticed the group was about to head out.

“What might that be?” The king of the beast asked.

“Well, it doesn’t have much to do with the rest of you, but it affects us all. The lady of the church, she….” As they heard Carlos words, all their frown deepened, things had turned out to be more worse than they had thought.